What was Huang Shan up to?
This time, not only Zhu Xiao and Fang Kuan were stunned, but even Sheng Jiangli was taken aback.
There was no such arrangement in the previous agreement with Huang Shan!
He tilted his head and downed another cup of wine, then curiously looked out of the door.
Only Song Yinghuai's eyelids fluttered slightly. He calmly lowered his eyes, his well - defined fingers holding the teacup, his deep gaze fixed in the curling steam.
He seemed to have the air of "Let him be strong, like a gentle breeze caressing the mountain ridge."
Zhu Xiao whispered in Fang Kuan's ear, "Who else did this eunuch bring with him on the way?"
Fang Kuan lowered his voice and said, "I don't know. Actually, Ji Qian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was also ordered to come together. It was said that it was to protect Huang Shan. But surely he won't... Is Huang Shan going to offer Ji Qian to the prince for his pleasure?"
Fang Kuan stole a terrified glance at Song Yinghuai.
His prince liked women!
Zhu Xiao thought Fang Kuan was out of his mind. "What are you daydreaming about all day long! Forget it, let's see who's coming!"
The young eunuch soon led the people in.
At the head was actually Ji Qian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in his flying fish robe!
Zhu Xiao coughed twice, and was soon attracted by the two women following Ji Qian.
One woman was wearing a brown - red embroidered silk shawl and a ruffled skirt with rouge red dots and gold threads.
She was slender and graceful, with black hair like a cloud, and a charming face.
The other woman was wearing a pink cloud - brocade beaded cape and a jade - colored ruffled skirt embroidered with piled flowers.
She was elegant and extraordinary, with a spiritual air, delicate skin, and a smiling peach - like cheek, full of playfulness.
Jiang Jinyue, who was pinched on Huang Shan's leg, felt a sudden chill in her heart. She stared blankly at the two stunning beauties.
She might not understand many things, but she understood this clearly.
Huang Shan was going to present these two women to Song Yinghuai!
The sorrow in her heart at this moment was indescribable. Only then did she realize how many women would be sent into the Prince of Yan's mansion.
Even if she got rid of Caiyu, there would be other women constantly vying with her.
Sheng Jiangli's eyelids twitched, and an interesting look flashed in his eyes.
The wine cup in Zhu Xiao's hand almost fell to the ground. He opened his mouth wide. "Oh my goodness, it's really one problem after another..."
They were actually used to various people sending women to Song Yinghuai, but this time was different.
This time, the prince already had someone in his heart!
That girl from the Lotus Sound Pavilion was not easy to deal with.
As the saying goes, three women make a drama.
One Jiang Jinyue hadn't been completely dealt with yet, and now two charming women appeared.
Just then, Fang Kuan stupidly said, "If these two women are combined, aren't they just like Caiyu?"
Zhu Xiao quickly poured the wine in his hand into Fang Kuan's mouth. "Shut up! You won't be considered a mute if you don't speak!"
He secretly glanced at Song Yinghuai, who was exuding cold air all over his body, and thought that it was safest to just eat.
Ji Qian bowed first. Huang Shan gave a cold snort. The scene seemed a bit awkward, but it was also expected.
The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been in constant strife in front of the emperor. However, now the Eastern Depot was relying on the crown prince, and the crown prince had invited a Taoist priest named Zhang into the palace to coax the emperor into practicing the art of the Yellow Emperor and Lao Tzu. As a result, the status of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had declined.
So when Huang Shan came north this time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard could only end up in the role of accompanying and protecting.
Song Yinghuai, however, looked mild - mannered. "Lord Ji, you're being too polite. Since you came to the mansion with Lord Huang just now, why didn't you enter the mansion to drink with us?"
Ji Qian endured the anger in his heart, glanced at Huang Shan's arrogant face, and forced a smile while suppressing his anger:
"I had to take care of the gifts Lord Huang brought. It was my duty, so it was not convenient for me to enter the mansion alone."
These gifts... were naturally the two young women behind him.
Song Yinghuai didn't seem interested in the "gifts" at all and didn't even intend to ask further. He just said, "Thank you, Lord Ji. Someone, add a seat for Lord Ji."
Ji Qian's expression relaxed a bit. He sat down happily, picked up the wine cup and drank three cups in a row, which only slightly relieved the anger in his heart.
What a nuisance!
Huang Shan said to the two women who had been standing, "Why don't you come and pay your respects to His Highness the Prince of Yan?"
The two women quickly stepped forward, bowed gracefully in front of Song Yinghuai, and said, "Miaoyi and Yunling pay their respects to the prince."
There was a hidden surprise in the lowered eyes of these two women.
Before they were brought to Yanjing, they thought that Song Yinghuai, the Prince of Yan and a famous war god in the Great Ye Kingdom, should be a rough - looking northern man with a full beard.
But they didn't expect that the man in front of them was as noble as jade, with a majestic and elegant bearing. Every gesture of his was filled with the dignity and nobility of a superior, as well as a rare gentle and amiable air.
This was probably the so - called male Bodhisattva.
He was solemn, yet compassionate.
Such a man... should be able to cherish beautiful women, right?
Of course, even if he didn't, just because of his looks, they were willing to enter the mansion to serve him.
"Miaoyi, Yunling..." Song Yinghuai softly pronounced their names, his gaze lingering on the faces of the two women for a while, and a glint of interest flashed in his eyes.
The looks of these two women were somewhat similar to Caiyu, and naturally, also somewhat similar to Lady Lü, the concubine of the crown prince...
It seemed that the person who sent these two women had spent a lot of thought.
Seeing Song Yinghuai's gaze fixed on the two women, Sheng Jiangli inexplicably felt a complex emotion in his heart.
This Prince of Yan clearly had feelings for Jin Shu before, but unexpectedly, he was interested in other women so soon.
What becoming a monk, what being free from desires!
It was all nonsense!
However, if Song Yinghuai lost interest in Jin Shu and was attracted by these two women, wouldn't his chance of taking Jin Shu away be much greater?
Miaoyi was the charming woman. Hearing the man's deep voice like the wind in a hot summer day, her heart skipped a beat. She boldly looked up, her beautiful eyes full of affection:
"Your Highness, this concubine is here..."
Zhu Xiao took a deep breath.
This alluring look was comparable to Caiyu's.
The playful - looking Yunling was not to be outdone. Her almond eyes sparkled, and there were two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth when she smiled. "This concubine is also here!"
Song Yinghuai smiled. The dawn light couldn't penetrate his expression at this moment. He said to Huang Shan, "What does Lord Huang mean by this?"
Huang Shan smiled and said, "In return for kindness. On my way north, I've always been thinking about finding a gift for the prince. Unexpectedly, I found two stunning women on the way. A hero should be matched with a beauty. I think it's a perfect match. What does the prince think?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Kuan finally couldn't help slapping the table. "How dare you! The prince personally asked the emperor to practice Buddhism back then. Now the emperor hasn't given his permission for the prince to return to the secular world. What's your intention in bringing two women into the mansion?"
Huang Shan was startled by Fang Kuan's ferocious look. He covered his mouth with an "ouch" and said, "General Sheng! Protect me!"
Sheng Jiangli put down his wine cup, raised his hand and patted Fang Kuan on the shoulder, smiling and consoling him. "General Fang, please calm down. Lord Huang is just presenting beautiful women because of the prince's generous hospitality... Why are you so angry? Your prince hasn't gotten angry yet! Maybe he likes it!"
"Sheng Jiangli, you lackey!" Fang Kuan had endured for several days, and now he finally vented his anger. "You were once a teacher of the emperor, but now you've become a follower of this eunuch. Look at what you've made the Kaiping Huqi cavalry into? The once - sharp blade on the border was so scared by our Yan army during the training at Shanhaiguan that they didn't dare to come out. You..."
"Old Fang! Don't be so rude!" Song Yinghuai coldly interrupted his words. "Sit back down!"
"Your Highness!" Fang Kuan shouted loudly. Meeting Song Yinghuai's cold eyes, he finally sat down dejectedly.
Ji Qian sat on one side, watching this show with interest. His appetite, which had been spoiled by anger, suddenly improved. He picked up the vegetarian dishes and ate them in big mouthfuls.
Because of Fang Kuan's outburst of anger, the atmosphere in the dining hall suddenly became cold again...